Dating website costs viewer more than $5,000

As we move further into the new world of dating, a Midlands man is throwing up a caution flag after he says he lost more than $5,000 due to an online dating website for Columbia singles.

According to the Pew Research Center, 11 percent of American adults have used online dating sites or mobile dating apps. The research shows the general public attitudes towards online dating have become more positive in recent years. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't let down your guard when it comes to searching for fish in the digital sea.

We recently received a call from a viewer with a concern about the dating site called Dating in Columbia, a dating website advertised as a way to meet quality singles through local events. It's one of three branches of the parent company Dating in the Carolinas. The man said he was asked to pay $5,000 up front, but didn't get what he paid for.

"I feel like when you sign a contract, that they should live up to their end of the bargain. You pay your money and, in my opinion, you get absolutely nothing in return,” the man, who does not want to be identified, said.

It all started when the man signed up for the site. He said the company promised different functions as a way to meet new people, but that's not what he said happened.

"They'll sell you a good game, but when it comes time, after you pay the money, and it comes time for them to live up to their part of the bargain, they just simply do not do it," he said.

The man said he saw two planned events on the online site and signed up for them. He said both events were canceled a week before they were supposed to happen. He also noticed there wasn't much activity on other users profiled on the site.

We signed into his account a few days ago, and sure enough, most of the users were inactive. He called the company about three months into his contract, which first assured him they would try to get in touch those that were inactive. He has yet to hear back from the company.

We tried calling the company and got the same answering system. None of our calls were returned and our emails were unanswered.

The customer who contacted us has filed a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs and it turns out, others have done so as well. Another complaint was filed from Dating in Greenville, part of the same company.

"I just would like for people to learn from my mistake and check out these things before they get involved with them," the man said. "The public needs to be aware of it. They don't need to give these people their money."

Consumer Affairs is looking into whether the man will get $5,000 back. The other person that filed a complaint was not able to be refunded because of the company policy in the contract.